May 22, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 16, 1429

KARACHI, May 21: Sindh Assembly Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has said there is a greater need to broaden tax base by bringing all incomes urban or rural including agriculture under the tax net.

Speaking at a dinner hosted by former chairman of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry Shaikh Manzar Alam on Tuesday, the speaker said that for improving the tax-to-GDP ratio, the growers should also pay tax on their incomes.

“Time has come that all incomes without any discrimination should be taxed to meet the growing financial needs of developing infrastructure and provision of education and health facilities to poor masses.Mr Khuhro said due to unemployment and high cost of essential commodities, the cases of suicides were rising.

He urged upon the business community to keep close liaison with the government so that collective efforts could bring better results and benefits to the people.

He added that his party value advice and suggestions coming from trade and industry.

He said previous government committed unlimited mistakes and yet it completed its five year tenure, therefore, this elected government should also be allowed to work for full term of five years.

S. M. Muneer, former president of FPCCI, said the PPP-led coalition government should work for the development of the country and pay more attention on economic issues.

He cautioned that the industry as a whole was in bad shape, therefore, more focused approach and attention from government was needed to save millions of jobs in the industrial sector particularly in the largest textile sector which was on the verge of collapse.

He said it was no more a hidden fact that almost all major economic indicators, including balance of trade, budget deficit, GDP growth, inflation and foreign exchange reserves were deteriorating and urgent steps were needed to avoid economic meltdown.